By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball team will vie for the gold medal for the first time in Southeast Asian (SEA) Games history after beating Vietnam, 2-0, at the Jomtien Beach Arena in Pattaya on Monday, December 15.

Negrense Bernadeth Pons, Cherry Ann Rondina, Floremel Rodriguez, and Sunnie Villapando picked up their fourth victory in as many outings after the sweep of Vietnam to clinch a finals berth with still one match to go.

The Philippine squad will close the eliminations against reigning champions Thailand on Wednesday, December 17, in a virtual preview of the gold medal match to be played on Friday, December 19.

It is the first time that the Philippines will compete in a gold-medal match since the sport was instituted in the biennial competition in 2003, two coming from Rondina and Pons.

Rondina and Pons clobbered Dinh Thi My Nga and Mai Hong Hanh, 21-18, 15-21, 15-10, in the first match, before Rodriguez and Villapando sealed the victory by defeating Chau Ngoc Lan and Nguyen Le Thi Tuong Vy, 22-20, 19-21, 15-10.

Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas women indoor absorbed another heartbreaking loss to Indonesia in the women’s volleyball bronze medal match, bowing 26-28, 25-13, 28-30, 24-26 at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

It marked the fourth straight-time Alas women lost to Indonesia in a battle for third place in the biennial meet.

Alas women showed resolve throughout the contest and pushed the Indonesians to extended sets, but crucial points in the closing moments went the way of their rivals.

The result extended the Philippines’ SEA Games women’s volleyball medal drought to 20 years, with Alas Pilipinas finishing fourth for the fifth consecutive edition./ASC, WDJ